Does it Actually Work to Put Your Phone in a Bag of Rice?

We've all been there - you drop your phone in the toilet, it falls out of your pocket into a snow bank, and/or you make the mistake of bringing it along on your canoeing trip. Great, this very expensive device is ruined. OR is it? Quick, what to do? Someone told me once that throwing it in a bag of rice would work. Well, they lied. Turns out the old phone in a bag of rice trick is a MYTH! I know, I'm just as surprised as you are.

TekDry did a study that tested seven materials most people have in their homes to determine which was the most absorbent. They tested silica gel, cat litter, couscous, instant oatmeal, classic oatmeal, and instant rice. Get this, researchers found that the dry, uncooked rice was the worst option. Instant rice was the next-to-worst option.

As if the possibility of getting rice dust inside your smartphone weren’t scary enough, there’s also a chance that the rice could absorb some water and become mushy enough to stick to your phone’s crevices, creases, and I/O ports. Rice is a starchy food, so can become gummy, get inside your phone, and literally gum up its works. - tccrocks.com

So what do you do? Dry the phone off with a paper towel. Don't charge it, take out the battery or blow dry it. Then cross your fingers and hope it still works in the morning. If not, call the pros, you're S.O.L.